In Plain Sight - AU - Locked to seaweed_writes

[ihadabadday]

No one knew how long Gods had walked among the mortals. They just knew they had. Some remained in their country of origin, some branched out and traveled. Others started business or charities. Some just went through existence simply being. Belief didn't have much to do with how the Gods chose to lead their lives.

This tale though, it focuses on the Greek Gods of old and Mount Olympus (which is a real place and traditionally is where Zeus is said to live with Hera).

John Watson didn't care for the politics of the Gods that surrounded them every day. He had other things to focus on, to pay attention to. Like medical school, and then the military. It wasn't until he was shot and laying in the desert, bleeding, did he whisper things to the God of Death, to Hades. To a god he didn't believe in. Blood whispers they were often called. And gods hardly paid attention to them, most believed they were the whispers of dying men.

But John Watson survived when others with the same injury had died. What was different about him?

He returned to London on an army pension and a cane. He shuffled through his life, a constant ache in his chest, like there was something missing. Though he had little to no idea of what was missing. He helped others where he could, donating his time and what little money. A homeless veteran (it boiled him so to see those who helped their country be left behind) once called him a beacon of light.

A beacon of light huh?

Most days he didn't feel like one. Most days his mood was dark and everything was shit.

One night when he was limping slowly back to his dismal bedsit, something caught his attention. He glanced down an alley and saw a tall man dressed in black, being mugged by some ratty youth. The man was far too posh for this neighborhood. So why was he here? But that didn't matter. John, on two strong legs, charged into the alley and used his cane to knock the criminal away. He didn't notice, but there seemed to be a light around him, an otherworldy aura to him.

He held the cane like a sword and pointed it at the would be thief. "You need to leave here." John commanded. It had been easy for some to forget that he had been Captain John Watson of the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers in Her Majesty's Army.

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[ihadabadday]

John woke when he heard Sherlock's yell. And the men were not quiet. He remained where he was, taking deep breaths. Sherlock sounded upset. Unusual.

He let out a breath and then started to move when it fell silent again.

He wondered if this would be the moment he last saw Sherlock. And that didn't sit well with him. In fact it nearly... It made him ill. There was a strangeness that came over him. A strangeness he couldn't explain.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock stalked over to the room where John was being kept, He had reverted back to his 'normal' form. 9 feet tall, thin and lanky, skinnier than was humanly possible. Skin was an ashen gray, his fingers and toes were tipped with claws instead of fingernails. The curly black hair that was on his head kept its shape, but it was now living fire, dancing on his head, shifting as he moved. His eyes were the same though, almond shaped and still the same gray/green/blue that they had been before. He was wearing a dark toga like robe that still managed to hug his curves but stay loose enough to be comfortable.

And as always, he was barefoot.

He absently waved his hand, and the bars disappeared. "Come on. Follow me. I don't think I have to force you. I will electrocute you if you don't comply, so make it easier on both of us." He sounded.. bored, with an undercurrent of annoyance.

He had turned away and walked back towards the entrance- he had only taken a few steps, when- not even looking but waggling his fingers over his shoulder he put John back in the clothes that he had had when he arrived.

"Come, John. Mount Olympus awaits."

[ihadabadday]

"Sherlock..." John felt dizzy. Something was wrong. He groaned before crumpling to the ground. This was not an act. Something was wrong with John Watson.

Instead of the gold glow that surrounded him when he used the magic that lived in him, it was a grey blue, similar to some of Sherlock's power.

It always seemed to be the opportune moments that the Fates appeared. Greg seemed to materialize at Sherlock's elbow. "Did you break him?"

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock had just turned and rolled his eyes at John, believing that he was just trying to stall.
"Oh come on, John. Just.." But he stopped short there. He looked pale, almost a grayish blue color, like he wasn't breathing, but Sherlock could see that he was.

He had only take a couple of steps back towards him when Greg poofed into view.

"Oh, what now, Graham." He loved needling the man about his name. "I didn't do a bloody thing. I fed him, I made him a toilet, a shower and look, I even put clothes on him." He was clearly annoyed, and upset. He brushed past the Fate, bumping his shoulder hard on purpose, and over to John, to observe him.

"Why did he collapse?" Sure, he had lost a good bit of blood, and his back was still ravaged, and of course he had the scar in the middle of his forehead, but he shouldn't have just passed out. "I really hope he didn't faint because I showed him what I actually look like. I didn't think this mortal was that weak." He spit out.

[ihadabadday]

"You fed him?" He looked at Sherlock, "Do you not know anything of your history?"

"The tale of Hades and Persephone." He clarified.

Greg stepped away and turned to look at the god. "Persephone becomes the Queen of Hell, by eating."

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock looked over to John, then back to Greg. "What are you talking about? I know nothing of any.. Persephone. And his name is John Watson. He couldn't become the Queen of hell. He has a penis. I have seen it." He, of course, said that with no shame. He didn't give a rats arse what Greg knew or didn't. He was a Fate, he knew it all anyways.

"So, what, are you saying that he is going to run Hell with me from now on? He isn't even a god. At best he is a halfbreed." Sherlock got up and stalked towards Greg. "Talk, and fast. My brother is expecting me and... " he waved his hand absently towards the heap of John on the floor. "... That in Olympus, now."

[ihadabadday]

"It's complicated. You need to research it." Greg said, "You should know your history." He was only the second Hades.

John started to come to, making a small noise. He opened his eyes and sat up. What the hell?

[seaweed_writes]

"Greg." the flames on his head flared up when he was angered, and the flames were rising higher now. "I do not have time to research what the previous Hades did. As I already said, I am due in Mount Olympus. now. Tell me. NOW!" He yelled the last word in a roar that echoed all around the giant cave they were in. His 'hair' flared up high when he yelled that last word.

He heard John stirring behind him, but he had know what Greg was talking about. "Tell me what the fuck you are talking about, or get the bloody hell out of my way." His voice was a low, dangerous growl.

[ihadabadday]

Greg took a breath and reached out, touching Sherlock's forehead. He gave him the information he wanted. The information on Persephone. The story and the magic it induced.

Hades and Persephone were bound. Forever.

John got up and turned to look at the two men. Well this was unusual.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock closed his eyes to let the flashes of information fill his brain. The Hades that came before him, had fallen in with with the goddess Persephone. He abducted her while she was picking flowers. Her mother searched for her everywhere and prevented anything from growing while she searched. Helios, the god of the sun, told her what happened. Zeus forced Hades to return her. He complied, but gave her pomegranate seeds to eat. Because of that, she had to spend the winter months in the Underworld. She became the Queen of the Underworld, and it was forbidden to speak her name.

When the shared thoughts faded, Sherlock opened his eyes, blinking a couple of times. His legs were slightly weak, and the fire on his head had died down to very low.

He looked at Greg. "What.. does this mean though? That every Hades is destined to be bound to one person? Persephone was a goddess. He is only a mortal, a half god, a half breed. How could he even be the 'Queen of the Underworld'? I.. don't understand. What happens now?" That was a phrase he was quite sure he had never spoken in his life.

[ihadabadday]

"What happens now is up to you." He answered, "Just do not allow the two of you to be separated right now. The magic is still settling. Severing it now, could harm or kill both of you." He warned.

John lifted his hand and thought for a moment. Flame erupted from his palm. It was gold with a center of blue. His magic was already merging with the new magic of the Underworld.

Oh god. He raised his head and looked at the two men.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock felt the tingle of magic behind him. He turned just in time to see the very end of the flame dancing in John's palm.
If he could have gone pale,then he would have.
He turned back to Greg. This is how Moriarty, the previous Hades died, isn't it? He was separated from his Persephone." He sounded angry but it was actually more fear than anything else.

"You say what happens is up to me, then you tell me not to separate from John. So it really isn't up to me, is it? How long do your Fates says that we need to be joined?" Anxiousness was ramping up inside Sherlock. He wished to hell that he had never met John Watson, his life had just become infinitely more complicated.

He looked back to John, studying the man. Was he doomed to spend forever here now because Sherlock hadn't know better? He never cared about what happened to mortals, but something inside of him felt.. almost... sorry for the man.

[ihadabadday]

Greg nodded. "It is. Some suspect a murder plot with it." He answered, "this was not the only outcome. But one of many. And unfortunately, the only one that did not lead in John Watson's early death."

If Sherlock had never brought him here. If he had just left the mortal be. But Fate was a tricky mistress, constantly changing and adapting.

"Some might say the two of you were always destined to meet, no matter the circumstances." He offered.

John closed his fist and looked at the two men. "What happened to my magic?" He demanded.

[seaweed_writes]

A long sigh emanated from Sherlock's throat. Well, this was going to complicate dealing with his brother. And complication was never good when it came to Mycroft- the might Zeus as the mortals called him.

"If I hadn't brought him here, he would have already died." He asked Greg, though it was more of a statement than a question. "And yet he still might die at the hands of my brother."

For the moment at least, he was ignoring John. He was part of the problem, not the solution at the moment.

"It sounds like Hades' fate was sealed. It happened with Moriarty, and it happened with me. And I know that you know what happens to us, to this mortal and I. But I also know that you won't tell me."

He looked back to John when he asked the question, but didn't answer.

Suddenly, his head whipped back to Greg. "Persephone was a goddess, not a mortal. Does that mean that he is...." His voice trailed off, he couldn't even contemplate what that might mean.

[ihadabadday]

"No ones fate is truly sealed." Greg supplied. He liked Sherlock, he really did. He was the least annoying of all the gods and goddesses.

"Every thing anyone does subjects them to a change in their fate. John Watson might have lived, or he could have died in Afghanistan." he shrugged a bit, "Fate is fate. It can be changed, it can be swayed and moved."

He glanced at John and then back at Sherlock. "The process is happening. There are rules for killing one of our own. You know that. Even Zeus would not break those rules." Greg warned before stepping back and vanishing in a swirl of light.

"What the hell is going on?" John demanded. He was more confused than angry.

[seaweed_writes]

Well, that had left things even less clear than they had been before.

'The process had started'- he had said. The process that will turn John from a half breed into a true god, he wondered? It was an immensely rare thing to happen. He had only seen it a couple of times in all his eons of being.

And what title would he take? Certainly he would not submit to being Persephone, as that is a female name. Though it would be the role that fate.. or Fate in the guise of Greg has seemed to cast him in.

Unfortunately, all of those questions would have to be saved for another time. Mycroft was going to be pissed that they were as late as they are, though he is fairly sure he would be have scryed to find him, so maybe he already knew some, or all of what ha happened.

Only one way to find out.

"Not now, John." He grabbed the man's arm and in a quick swirl of smoke and ash. they were gone.

Less than a heartbeat (if Sherlock had a heart, which he didn't) they were standing on clouds, surrounded by the humongous glittering gold gates that heralded Mount Olympus. The two gates stood 100 feet tall easily, and at the moment they were closed.

"Well, consider yourself lucky. No mortal gets to see this, at least not while alive."

[ihadabadday]

John opened his mouth to argue, but then shut it. He was... Pouting. That was a good term for it. He huffed and then grabbed onto Sherlock when they began to vanished.

Christ.

He was going to kick the man, regardless of his current appearance. Which was rather handsome.

John pulled away and then looked up at the gates. They reminded him of something, but he couldn't quite place it. "I am sure other of us mortals would be pleased to see the gates to a heaven they don't believe in." He grumbled. More to himself than anyone else.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock rolled his eyes. "This isn't heaven. This is Mount Olympus. Mortals don't come here when they die. Very few mortals ever see this place, and none while they were alive. You should count yourself lucky and sound a bit more grateful." Sherlock snapped at him. He didn't have time to be pleasant with this man.

He grabbed John's arm again, and in another moment they were in what looked like a giant hall with a great table that seemed to stretch on to eternity inside.

And standing, at the end of the table, leaning against the back of a chair, his legs crossed at the ankles, was Zeus.

If Sherlock was tall at 9 feet, then Zeus was gigantic, close to 12 feet tall, his skin glowed with a golden yellow hue like he radiated the sun. Crackles of lightning played across his skin, and around the giant white toga that he wore.

"You're late." He said, in bored tone just like Sherlock's.

"I'm sure you are aware the The Fates paid us a visit." There was no response from Mycroft. He just looked down his nose at the little man next to his brother.

You are the mortal at the center of this?" he huffed. "I expected someone.. Taller."

[ihadabadday]

John crossed his arms over his chest and stared up at Zeus, a decidedly 'not impressed' expression on his face.

"By no fault of my own. I was quite content living my life. And don't say that it was a worthless life. It was my life and that's what mattered."

John Watson did not cower, John Watson did not beg. And he certainly didn't give a rats ass about the men in this room. He would stare them down until his dying breath. He would live and die on his terms, not these gods.

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes and throw some rather satisfying insults around, but just barely.

[seaweed_writes]

Mycroft smirked down at John. "You should thank my brother." He said to John.
:
"I had every intention of striking you down where you stand. You may look unimpressed, but I can assure you that it would be nothing for me to kill you. But, because of Hades' mistake, you have been spared."

He looked over to Sherlock. "He is your problem now, brother mine. Do with him as you will." He shooed them away like a horse would swat at a fly with its tail.

"I came up here for this?" Sherlock asked, the flames on his head rising. "You could have scryed me to tell me."

"Well, things changed, rather recently, didn't they? You fed him. And how he is your Persephone, like Moriarty before you. He may spend the winter months, from the night of the winter solstice to the night of the spring solstice on his precious Earth. If he doesn't return, he will die. There is nothing either you or I can do about that. It is Fate. The rest of the time, he will be in Hell, with you."

Sherlock crossed his arms. He was stuck with this... whatever he was.. not a mortal, not a god. He sighed.

[ihadabadday]

John looked between the two brothers, his own anger rising and cackling just lightly before he stamped it down, the light gold fading as quick as it appeared.

He honestly didn't care. Gods had meddled in the affairs of humans for too long and look where it got everyone. He just settled for glaring at Sherlock.

"What did you do?" He asked. He didn't care he was the shortest. He didn't care that he was easily killed or tossed aside.

[seaweed_writes]

"I assume that you either haven't taken a course in classical Greek literature, or you didn't understand it." Sherlock said with more than a hint of annoyance.

"Hades- the Hades that ruled Hell before I took the title, lusted after a goddess named Persephone. He abducted her and took her to hell. She was found, and he was convinced to release her, but he tricked her into eating pomegranate seeds, and because she had tasted the fruit in Hell she was bound to it. She became the Queen of Hell and Hades' wife. She could only visit Earth during the winter, when the crops didn't grow. "

He sighed. "Since this had happened to the Hades before me, Moriarty, I was not aware of this. In my stupid mistake of trying to make you happy, I fed you in Hell. And now, you are bound to it like Persephone was."

He crossed his arms. "So, get used to a long stay."

[ihadabadday]

John stared at him and then pressed his lips together. "Someone will have to tell me to get from there to Earth." He pointed out.

He then looked at Zeus, but he didn't say anything. The displeasure was obvious on him. But John Watson was not a man to turn away from a duty.

[seaweed_writes]

Mycroft smirked again. "Well, I will leave you two to it." In a flash, of lighting that left both of their skins tingling, he was gone.

Sherlock said nothing, yet. He took John's arm and in a moment, they were back in the throne room of Hell, where Cerberus was sitting patiently, waiting. It growled when it saw John.

"We are no long guarding John. He won't be going anywhere, he told the giant beast. Immediately it backed down, and laid on its paws.

"I will have to create a new room for you, and another throne, if you are to sit with me. My job is not hard most of the time, except for the people who refuse to die." He gave John a bit of a look when he said that. "Its rather tedious and boring, but you grow into it after a few millennia".

[ihadabadday]

"The room you created me originally is fine." He replied. John crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. Well Fuck.

He didn't say another word as he stormed back to the room he had originally been given.

John laid back on the bed and stared up at the stone ceiling. Now he was really stuck here. Why hadn't he paid more attention during those Greek studies courses he took?

He didn't have much family. His mother passed and Harry... He shot up. Harry! Fuck. Was she? She was older so he wasn't certain if they shared the same paternal genetics.